Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's always open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's first and second seasons to pieces. The common opinion was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, and contributing the periodic peculiar declaration. ("I love spinach!" … "A tradition has to have a beginning." … "A tree is part of my memory and love of the holiday season.") She's a bit of a character, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she appears content; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but manages to seem carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent just what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the level of examination she has weathered from the moment she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even soften her routine, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. There isn't the draft in this country, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the time and energy their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining the young royals' faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a sweet treat.
